Sterilizer



Apxr 2% H943, W. G. HARVEY STERILIZER Filed Dec. 22, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet l T O'o o 0 AWH @y 319411., W. G. HARVEY STERILIZER Filed Dec. 22, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 patented pr. Z9, i941 gaat FFME;

STIRILIZERV Walter G. Harvey, Los Angeles, Calif.; Elizabeth S. Harvey administratrix of said Walter G.

Harvey, deceased Application December 22, 1937, Serial No. 181,183

l Claim.

lized by dentists, surgeons, barbers, dermatologists and the like.

A further object of my invention is, to provide a device of the character referred to, wherein the sterilization is accomplished by means of heat and vapor produced from a liquid or combination of liquids capable of killing microorganisms, such as bacteria disease germs and the like.

Further objects of my invention are, to provide a sterilizer wherein the heat required to effect sterilization and vaporization of the liquid within the device is produced by the passage of an electric current through a heating coil, the flow of which electric current is controlled by a thermostat, and the action of the latter being controlled by the heat developed Within the sterilizer, so as to minimize the possibility of leakage of internal pressures developed during the sterilizing process, and further, to provide simple means for conveniently delivering sterilizing liquid to a chamber within the housing of the sterilizer.

A further object of my invention is, to provide a sterilizer of the character referred to, having a readily removable head or end plate that is associated with it, means for clamping the head or plate '.to the end of the sterilizer housing and said head or end plate carrying a tray that receives and holds the instruments or articles while the same are being sterilized.

A further object of my invention is, to provide a sterilizer having means for delivering both sterilizing fluid and its vapor into the sterilizing chamber.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, my invention consists in certain novel features of construction and arrangements of parts that will be hereinafter more fully described and claimed and illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a vertical section taken lengthwise through the center of a sterilizer constructed in accordance with my invention.

Fig. 2 is a vertical section taken approximately on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1, with parts shown in elevation.

Fig. 3 is a perspective View of the heating coil used in the sterilizer.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged horizontal section taken on the line ll-ll of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged section taken through the center of the needle valve that controls the flow of vapor into the sterilizing chamber.

Fig. 5a is a cross section taken on the line G-B of Fig. 5.

Fig. 6 is a top plan View of the end portion of the sterilizer having the removable head or cover plate.

Fig. 7 is an elevational view of the modified form of the thermostat and switch that controls the oW of electric current to the heating coil.

Fig. 8 is a cross section taken on the line 8-8 of Fig. 7.

Referring by numerals to the accompanying drawings which illustrate an embodiment of my improved sterilizer, I0 designates the outer shell or Wall of the sterilizer body, which shell is preferably formed of metal tubing, and suitably secured to one end thereof, is a metal ring I I, from the lower portion of which depends short legs I2.

Suitably Secured to the other end of the shell I0 is a ring I3, from which depends short legs It, and which latter, together with the legs I2, providesupport for the sterilizer to hold the same in a horizontal position.

Projecting inwardly from the intermediate portion of ring I3 is a flange I5, and the outer end of the ring is closed by a readily removable plate The space I1 between the flange I5 and plate I6 provides a chamber for several parts of the sterilizer, including the thermostatically operated switch that controls the flow of electric current to the heating coil, the fuse located in the electric circuit and other essential parts hereinafter described in detail.

An inner shell I 8, preferably a metal tubing slightly smaller in diameter than the shell I0, is positioned concentrically within the outer shell I0, with one end passing through and rigidly xed to ring II. Rigidly xed to the opposite end of the inner shell I8 is a short cylindrical housing I9, the outer end of which bears against flange I5, and secured within the outer portion of this housing by welding or otherwise, is a disc-shaped head 2U.

The chamber 2 I, within the housing, is adapted to receive the liquid or combination of liquids that are vaporized to produce the germicide that is admitted to the sterilizing chamber 22 within the inner shell I8. The end of the inner shell I8 projects a short distance beyond the outer face of ring II, and formed in said ring and surrounding said projecting end 'is a groove that contains a packing ring 23.

The edge of a disc-shaped head 24 is provided with a groove 25 for the reception of the projecting end of shell I8, and a flange 26 on the head that surrounds saidrgroove is adapted to engage the packing ring 23, thus providing a fluid pressure tight joint between the head 24 and the end of the inner shell I8.

Suitably secured to the inner end of the vhead 24 is a substantially channel-shaped tray 2I that is adapted to receive and hold the tools, instruments and other objects that are to be sterilized, and this tray projects into the lower portion of chamber 22 and terminates adjacent the inner wall of the housing I9. Tray 21 is preferably formed of perforated or reticulated material, in order that the heated sterilizing vapor may circulate freely through said tray.

Formed on the outer face of the central portion of the head is a boss 28 in which isl formed a groove 29, which groove is adapted to receive the notched end Yof a handle that is used in removing thev head from the end of the sterilizer,

which tool is shown by dotted lines a, Fig. l.

Mounted for'swinging movement on a pin 38,

that is seated in ring II to the side of the body g of the sterilizer, is a horizontally disposed yoke 3|, the free end of which is notched for engaging a headed pin 32 that is seated in ring II, diametrically opposite from pin 30. This arrangement permits the yoke to `be swung upwardly and thence outwardly, to permit the head 24 to be applied to or removed from the end of the inner tube I8 and ring II.

To firmly clamp the head 24 against ring II and the end of inner tube I8, a screw 33, proi.

vided on its outer end with a handle 34, passes through the center of yoke 3|, and the end of said screw carries a head 35 that is adapted to engage against the outer face o-f the boss 28. By rotating the screw so asto move same inwardly through the yoke, the head 35 engages boss 28 and presses the marginal portion of the head 24 against the end of tube I8 andthe packing ring 23, thereby producing a'luidpressure-tight joint and preventing the escape of thesterilizing vapor from chamber 22.

Formed through'the upper portion of ring I i and through the wall of tube i3 is a duct `36, to which is connected a tubular tting 37 that carries a conventional pressure gauge 38, and which latter occupies a position directly above the sterilizer as illustrated inFig. 1.

The inner portion of a tubular valve housing 39 projects through head 2B and the inner wall of housing iS, the outer portion of which Valve housing extends through end plate I6 and is secured thereto by means of a bushing 4Iv Ythat is screwseated on the threaded outer portion of said valve housing, and which bushing occupies `an aperture 4t in said plate I6.

Screw-seated within the outer portion of valve housing 39 is a bushing 42 through which passes a valve operating rod or stem 43 carrying on its outer end a handle 44.' A packing gland 451 is positioned within the outer portion of valve housing 39, against the outer end of bushing `42, and which gland is held in position by nut45'a that is screw-seated on the threaded outer portion of the valve housing and which nut serves as a locknut for the bushing 4 I Formed in the inner end of stem or rod 43 is a threaded bore '43a that receives the left hand threaded rear portion of a needle valve 4.6 `having a pointed forward end-46a`that is Vadapted. toene gage a seat 4Gb that is formed at the inner end of an axial bore 48d, which latter is formed through a stem 46e that is screw-seated in the inner vend of the valve-housing 38.

Needle valve 46 carries within the chamber in the valve-housing 39 a short cylindrical block 46,", in which is formed a plurality of longitudinally disposed grooves 46g.

Seated in the wall of the Valve-housing 39 is a pin 45h, the inner end of which enters one of the grooves in the cylinder 46j thus holding the needle valve 46 against rotary movement, but at the same time permitting it to move lengthwise within the valve-housing.

Seated in the lower portion of the vaive-housing immediately to the rear of the valve seat 48h,

is the upper end of a small tube 431 that extends downwardly to a point near the bottom of the sterilizing fluid chamber ZI.

Formed integral with and projecting upwardly from the valve-housing within chamber I1 is an externally threaded nipplei'll that communicates with the chamber within:'the-valve-housing, and screw-seated on said nipple is the lower end of a cap-fwhich closes said nipple and prevents the escape of `iiuid pressure therethrough. Cap 4B projects through an opening 48, formed in the top portion of ring I3.

In order to ll or partially iillcharnber 2i with a germicidal liquid, a funnel 58, having the lower portion of its spout'internally threaded, is adapt-V ed tobe'removably positioned on the nipple 4l, as illustratedin Fig'. 2; oandzto permit the liquid to flow freely through' the valve-housing into the chamber 2l vand-tov permit 'air to pass from said chamber outwardly'through valve-housing and nipple, a series-ofapertures suchV as 5 I Aare'formed through theupperand-lower-portions ofthe wall of the valve-housing within the chamber 2i and to the rear` of thev seat 48h that receives Vthe taperedl end of the valve. (See Fig. 5.)

The means forhleating' the interior of the sterilizer includingV the liquid-containing chamber 2i, consists of a coil-ofwire'52 thatis embedded in layersofinsulation 52a, preferably asbestos, that llthe space'between'thetubes Iandiii.V The ends ofthi's coil, as illustrated in Fig 3, lare connected to- 'conductors ,"53f and .53a 'that pass through lplugs 'of-insulation 54" thati are seated in langelV Formed integral 'with' Vand projecting outwardly froml thecentral portion ofthe outer face of head 20' are vfour walls E''th'ait provide a chamber' 55 for thereception of the thermostat that controls the currentk flow to heating 'coil`52, and .removably secured to said walls 54 is a cover'platei.

'Secured to th'efinner face,l of cover plate 56 is a sheet `57 ofin'sulation, and secured to oneend thereof by a binding post is one end of a fiat strip of resilient meta1.59, the free endof which carries a' contact. 'Ihetendency ofthe free end of this resili'ent'metal'strap is to' iiex to ward'the sheetof insulation '57, andto adjust the free end of said strap away from the insulation, a screw '6I passes through coverplate 5t and the inner end, of saidscrewcarries a small block 6 I a "of Vinsulating material Vthat makes contact with the' intermediate portion. of Vthespring 59.

A binding post "621passes through and-.isinsulated from cover plate 5'6 and spring V53,. and secured to the inner end of this binding post is a conventional thermostatic element .'63, preferably composed of two strips of metal having different s co-'elic'ients of expansion that are especially ar ranged so that rising temperature tends to move the free end of said thermostat awayfrcm the free end of spring 59. l

Carried by the free end of thermostatic member 63 is a contact B4 that is'adapted to engage contact lili on spring 59, thereby closing an electric circuit through the thermostatic element and said spring.

Suitably supported within chamber l1 preferably below lthe housing formed by thewalls 54, is a conventional electric fuse 65 having binding posts 66 and 61. l

Located in the side of ring I3 is a small window 68, preferably of the type having a faceted transparent member 59, and suitably supported wlthin the chamber i1 immediately adjacent this window, is a small electric lamp 1G.

One conductor 1i of an electric current supply line is connected to binding post 65 that is connected to one end of the fuse 65, and the other conductor 12 of the supply line is connected to binding post 52. One of the conductors 53 from heating coil 52 is connected to binding post 58, and the other one of the conductors leading from the heating coil, and which is designated by the numeral 53a in Fig. 4, is connected to binding post 61. A conductor 13 extends from binding post t1 to lamp 1i! and a conductor 14 extends from the other side of the lamp to binding post 58.

In the use of my improved sterilizer, the 1nstruments, tools or articles to be sterilized are placed in tray 21, and as the head 24 is applied to ring il and the end of tube I8, the tray containing the instruments is positioned in the lower portion of chamber 22.

The free end of yoke 3l is now engaged on pin 32, and handle 34 is manipulated to move screw 33 through the yoke and thereby press and clamp the marginal portion of head 24 tightly against the end of tube I3 and against the packing ring 23. Such action produces a fluid pressure-tight joint between head 24 and the body of the sterilmer.

Chamber 2i is filled or partially lled with a germicidal liquid or combination or liquids by applying a funnel 56 to nipple 41, and after thls filling operation, funnel 5B is removed and the nipple is closed tightly by screwing cap 48 thereinto. Thus the clamping of the head 24 on the end of the sterilizer, and the application of cap 43 to nipple 41 renders the sterilizer leak-proof.

After closing the duct from the inner end of valve-housing 3Q into chamber 2| by proper manipulation of the needle valve 46, the switch in the electric current supply line is closed, with the result that current flows from conductor 1I through fuse 65, thence through conductor 53a through coil 52, thence through conductor 53 to binding post 53 and from thence through spring 59, which, as previously described, is adjusted relative to the thermostat member 63 by adjusting screw El.

When the apparatus is cold, or before a predetermined degree of heat has been developed, the contact 64 on the end of the element 63 is in engagement with contact 50 carried by spring 59, so that the electric current flowing to spring 59, passes through the contacts-50 and 64, thence through thermostatic element 63 to binding post 52, to which the other side of the current supply line conductor 12 is connected. Obviously, as the current flows through coil 52, the chambers 22 and 2l within the sterilizer will be heated. During this heating period, lamp will be lighted by current flow through conductors 13 and 14,

thus giving a visible signalthrough the window 68 that the apparatus is functioning.

Y Upon the development of a predetermined degreev of temperature within the sterilizer, the solution contained within chamber 2l will start to vaporize, and at the proper time, needle valve 46 is Withdrawn from its seat 4.611 thereby permitting the vaporized sterilizing solution to discharge into chamber 22 that contains the tray of instruments, tools and other articles to be sterilized.

As the vapor, which is under pressure, passes from chamber 2i into the chamber in which the tray 21 carrying the instruments or articles to be sterilized, a small amount of sterilizing liquid will be drawn upwardly through tube 462', and such liquid will discharge with the vapor through duct 46d into the sterilizing chamber, thus bringing about thorough sterilization of all instruments and articles contained in tray 21.`

The needle valve 46 in its longitudinal movement during the opening and closing of the inner end of duct 46d does not rotate, due to the engagement of pin 46h in one of the grooves litg. As rod 43 is rotated, the threaded engagement of the rear end of valve stem 46 with the stem 43 will move needle valve l longitudinally, to either open or close the duct 46d, and during such movement, the cylindrical block 46j will slide lengthwise within the valve-housing but will not rotate therein.

The ducts 46g in the surface of member 467 enables the sterilizing fluid to flow freely from fitting 41, past cylindrical member 46f to the apertures 5l which communicate with chamber 2l.

The combined heat, sterilizing solution and vaporized sterilizing solution cooperate to effect thorough sterilization of all instruments and articles placed in the tray 21, and during the sterilizing period, the thermostatic switch will act automatically to maintain a practically uniform temperature within the sterilizing chamber. If the heat within the chamber rises above a predetermined degree, the thermostatic member @3 will move away from spring 59 so as to open the heating circuit and as the temperature lowers, the thermostatic member will act automatically to restore the circuit.

After the sterilizing period has terminated, needle valve is closed to cut oif the further flow of vapor into the sterilizing chamber 22.

To remove the sterilized instruments and articles from the apparatus, it is only necessary to release screw 33 and then disengage the free end of the yoke from pin 32 and the head 24 and tray 21 may now be withdrawn from the sterilizing chamber.

In Figs. 7 and 8 I have illustrated a modified form of the thermostatio switch, and in this construction, a glass tube 15 has formed in its lower portion, a longitudinally disposed channel 16 adapted to contain mercury, and secured to the ends of said tube are metal caps 11, the latter being electrically connected to the heating coil that surrounds the sterilizing chamber.

Projecting from one of the caps 11 is a finger 18, and surrounding tube 15 is a collar 19 that is located a substantial distance to one side of the longitudinal center of the tube, and projecting from the rear side of this collar is a pin 83 that is journalled in the head 2i). Thus the end of the tube having the cap 11 that carries finger 18 tends to move downward by gravity. One end of a coiled loi-metal thermostat 3| is normally positioned beneath iinger '18, `and the opposite end of this thermostat is secured to a screw 82 that is seated in head 20. By rotating screw S2, the end of the thermostat 8i that .is positioned beneath the finger 'I8 may be raised or lowered; consequently, controlling the operation of the switch. Under normal conditions, or While the coil 52 is being heated, tube 15 occupies a substanf tially horizontally position so that the caps Vf on the ends thereof are electrically connected by the body of mercury within the channel When the heat rises above the predetermined degree, thermostat 8| will expand, thus raising the end of the tube having the cap that carries the finger I8 and as the tube leaves its horizontal position, the mercury will ow to one end of the tube so as to break the electrical connection between the caps TI. As the temperature lowers, thermostat 8| Will contract, thus permitting the tube 'l5 to swing back to a horizontal position which permits the mercury to restore the electrical connection between the caps 'll'.

Thus it will be seen that I have provided a sterilizing apparatus that is relatively simple in construction, inexpensive of manufacture, en-

tirely automatic in controlling the degree of heat developed to bring about eiiective sterilization of various articles, such as instruments and equipment used by dentists, surgeons, barbers and the like, and said apparatus being very effective in performing the functions for which it is intended.

It will be understood that minor changes in the size, form and construction of the Various partsV of my improved sterilizer may be made and substituted for those herein shown and described without departing from the spirit of my invention, the scope of which is set forth in the appended claim.

I claim as my invention:

In a sterilizing apparatus, a housing having a sterilizing chamber and a separate chamber adapted to receive a sterilizing solution, electrical heating means arranged Within said housing and surrounding both of the chambers therein for yheating said chambers, valvular means for controlling the discharge of vaporized sterilizing solution from the solution-containing chamber into the sterilizing chamber and means whereby sterilizing solution is drawn from the solution chamber and delivered with the vaporized soluf tionintothe sterilizing chamber.

WALTER G. HARVEY. 

